Apparatus for carrying glass sheets.



J. W. CRUIKSHANK.

APPARATUS FOR CARRYING GLASS SHEETS.

APPLICATION men MAR. l0. I916.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

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FIGJ- WITNESSES 'NVENTOR l. W. CRUIKSHANK.

APPARATUS FOR CARRYlNG GLASS SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. l9l6.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES mr mwms PEYERS co, Primouma. wAsmNmoN. n. c

JAMES CRUIKSHANK, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

Application filed. March 10, 1916. SeriaI'No. 83,296.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J. W. CRUIKSHANK, citizen of the United States, resident of Pittsburgh, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Carrying Glass Sheets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, accompanied by drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the carrying of sheets of glass in a vertical position by means of clamps, from one department of a factory to another where the various operations are performed in the manufacture of the glass.

The carrying clamps of this apparatus are compact and efiicient, taking up little side room so that it is easy to stack the sheets vertically against each other, and also a minimum of head room which is especially advantageous in buildings which have low roofs.

The clamps are automatic in their action so that a sheet is released when lowered, they then remain in the open position and ready to receive another sheet.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation with a sheet of glass in position and being carried; Fig. 2. is a side elevation of the clamps, Fig. 3. be ing a cross section of the same taken on line A A; Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

A trolley beam, designated by the numeral 5, of I section or other suitable construction is attached to the lower members of the roof trusses 6; a trolley 7 running on the lower flange thereof; 8 a hoisting device; 9 the clamps for holding the glass; 10 a suspended sheet of glass; a line marked 11 the floor line of the building.

Gripping plates covered by suitable material, such as felt or rubber designated by the numerals 12 are placed between the arms 13 of a pair of U shaped members 14 which are connected and supported by a cross beam 15, having a connection 16 to the chain of the hoisting device 8. Wheels 17 are mounted on pins 18 in the arms 13 of the frame 14 and engage the wedge shaped members 19 rigidly attached to the clamps 12. The clamping plates 12 are connected together by means of springs 20; blocks 21 of some non-resilient substance, such as wood or rubber are fastened on the inner side of the springs 20. A lever 22 is mounted on a rotating shaft 23 with a catch 24 which is an integral part of it. A corresponding catch 25 is connected to the opposite end of the shaft 23. Catches 26 are fastened to the clamps 12 and engage with catches 24 and 25. The lever 22 is provided with a cord 27 at one end by which it is operated and the other end is connected to a spring 28, attached to the frame by a pin 29.

The operation is as follows :-The trolley and clamps are brought into position over a sheet of glass. Theclamps are lowered so that the blocks 21 engage with the edge of the sheet so that the weight of the gripping plates 12 are suspended through the 2 springs 28. The operator then pulls the cord 27 disengaging the catches 24 and 25 from the catch 26. An upward movement is given to the frames 14 by means of operating the chain of the hoist. frames 14 with the clamping plates 12 remaining in the same relative elevation in regard to the sheet of glass. During the raismg of the frame the wheels 18 engage with the wedges 19 and push the gripping plates inwardly into contact with the glass.

As the raising continues there is a tendency to raise the glass sheet, which will by friction pull downwardly on the gripping plates so that they grip tightly on either side of the sheet due to the wedging action and will firmly hold it so that it can be raised into position and can be carried to any desired location.

In order to release the glass the clamps are lowered so that the edge of the sheet of glass engages the blocks 21; the gripping plates 12 now rest on the edge of the sheet of glass and their weight is taken thereby, being transmitted through the springs 20. As the rigid frame continues to descend the gripping plates 12 will gradually open and recede from the surfaces of the glass due to the outward action of the springs and the release of pressure due to the changed relative position of the wheels 17 and the wedges 19. The downward move ment of the frame continues until the catches 24 and 25 engage the catches 26 holding the gripping plates 12 apart and the clamp open ready to receive another sheet of glass.

The springs 20 are so proportioned that they will hold the gripping plates apart when released from the action of the wheels 18 on the wedges 19, but not strong enough to prevent the gripping plates from closing This raises together due to the force of gravity. action on their weight through the horizontally fixed wheels 18 and the wedges 19.

The clamps as described are suitable for carrying glass by means of an overhead traveling crane or other devices for raising and transporting it. i

It is understood that I may make many changes without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that I am not limited to any specific arrangement of parts to that shown except so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention I desire to obtain Letters Patent as set forth in the following claims:

I claim 1. In a clamp for carrying a sheet of glass, the combination of a pair of flexibly connected gripping members having a relatively fixed vertical position to the sheet of glass; a frame free to move vertically,

comprising a supporting member carrying U shaped members having the ends of their downwardly extending oppositely placed arms relatively immovable to each other embracing the gripping members and engaging with them, means for imparting a horizontal movement to the gripping members for gripping and releasing when the frame is raised and lowered.

2. In a clamp for carrying a sheet of glass, the combination of a pair of flexibly connected gripping members having a relatively fixed vertical position to the sheet of glass; a frame free to move vertically,

comprising a supporting member carrying U shaped members having the ends of their downwardly extending oppositely placed arms relatively immovable to each other embracing the gripping members and engagthe sheet.

ing with them, means for imparting a horizontal movement to the gripping members for gripping and releasing when the frame is raised and lowered; means for suspending the gripping members to the frame, and means for disengaging them from it.

3. In a clamp for carrying a sheet of glass, the combination of a pair of flexibly connected free gripping members and a frame with rigid arms embracing the free gripping members; means for suspending the gripping members on the rigid frame and holding them out of contact with the glass; means for disengaging the gripping members from the frame, wedge mechanism engagingthe arms of the rigid frame and free gripping members by which means and the action of gravity gripping members are brought toward each other and in contact with the sheet.

4. In a clamp for carrying a sheet of glass, the combination of a pair of free gripping members connected by fiexible supporting bails; aframe with rigid arms embracing the free gripping members; wedge mechanism engaging the arms of the rigid frame and free gripping members arranged to move the gripping members inwardly and engage the sheet; feet on the flexible supporting bails to engage the edge of the sheet and support the gripping members; means to give the gripping members horizontal movement to disengage them from the sheet; means for suspending the gripping members-on the rigid frame when the gripping members are not in contact with JAMES W. ORUIKSHANK. Witnesses:

EDWARD J. OHL,

M. O. BECK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

